The Involvement of RNA in Protein Synthesis

Abstract

Translation of mRNADirection of TranslationMessenger RNA possesses a chemical polarity in its structure. The phosphodiester linkage runs from 5' to 3' on the ribose moiety of adjacent nucleotides. When the message is translated into protein, in which direction is it read? Direct in vitro experiments bearing on this subject suggest that the reading is from the 5' to the 3′ end.It is known⁵⁵ that in the synthesis of a protein, the NH₂ terminal end is synthesized first. Accordingly, if a polynucleotide messenger of known base composition is used to direct in vitro protein synthesis, the NH . . .